History of the Jews in Mongolia

Flag of Mongolia

The history of the Jews in Mongolia starts with the 19th century trade routes between Siberian-Jewish merchants and the Mongolians. This resulted in some Jewish families entering Mongolia.

History

Before 1920, most Jews that arrived in Mongolia were of Russian background, and had fled the chaos of the Russian Civil War. Some were even elevated to Mongolian nobility. This was the case of Baron Zanzer, who changed his name in honour of Zanabazar, the first Bogd Khan; the name and title become one in Mongolia and defined the identity of the person.

1920s

The community was annihilated^{[ citation needed ]} in 1921 by the White Russian antisemitic rebel Baron Roman von Ungern-Sternberg, who left Russia to attack the Soviets from Mongolia and pursued Jews who fled the Russian civil war and killed everyone of the 600 Jews: men, women & children.

In 1925–6, a Russian-Jewish journalist came across a community of 50 newly settled families in a remote region of Outer Mongolia approximately 320 kilometres (200 miles) from the Manchurian border.

In 1926, Ulaanbaatar had a population of 600 Russian Jews who had attempted to leave Outer Mongolia, which was a Soviet satellite state at the time.

Post Soviet Union

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, a number of Jewish citizens left the country in search of better economic opportunities. Some left for Israel, which had a visa agreement with Mongolia. ^[1]

Present day

Few Israeli tourists visit Mongolia in summers and the two countries have a mutual agreement for visa exemptions. ^[1] Despite that, the Jewish population numbers less than 100.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2003, the Mongol-Jewish Cooperation was formed, and its website answers questions about subjects such as Judaism and Israel. The organization's head, Sumati Luvsandendev, has said, "there are enough fingers on two hands to count all Jews who live here." ^[2] The closest Jewish community with a rabbi is the Siberian city of Irkutsk, whose Chief Rabbi Aharon Wagner seeks to maintain close contact with the neighboring Mongolian Jewish community. ^[3]

As of 2025 there is only 1 practicing Jewish person in Mongolia Yair Jacob Porat. ^[4]

See also

• History of the Jews in Central Asia
• History of the Jews in Russia
• History of the Jews in China

References

1. Shehori, Dalia. "In need of investors, Mongolia stretches out a friendly hand". Archived from the original on 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
2. "The Jewish Community of Mongolia". The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
3. "FJC | News | Chief Rabbi of Irkutsk Visits Jews of Mongolia". Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
4. "100 Years After Genocide, Mongolia's Jewish Community Is Tiny Local leader uncovers new evidence of massacre By Menachem PosnerJanuary 9, 2025 5:45 PM".

External links

• Jewish virtual tour-Mongolia